SA-based businessmen opens hotel

THE Minister of State Security, Kembo Mohadi has called on Zimbabweans in the diaspora to consider pooling resources and invest in national economic development programmes.

Mohadi said the country had a lot of opportunities in skills and services and infrastructure development projects. He was speaking during the official opening of the Zhovhe Leisure Park Hotel which was funded by Beitbridge businessmen based in South Africa, the proprietors of Top Pick investments.

"Besides creating jobs for our people this hotel is set to improve tourism opportunities around Beitbridge district. Infrastructure and utilities development is part of our economic blue print, Zim Asset. We are calling upon all the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who have made it in the diaspora to consider investing back at home and feed into our national economic development. There is a lot we can do with a shared vision. Let's developed a culture of working together and avoid being divided based on trivial issues."

Mohadi said the Government was working on a raft of measures to promote investment on key economic sectors. He said so far the Government had secured a loan from Kuwait to speed up the construction of the 63km Zhovhe water canal that is set to promote irrigation farming in the district.

He said the canal will also help augment water supplies in one of the fastest growing towns.

"We expected the Zhovhe canal to turn around the fortunes of people, living on its course and those in Beitbridge town. The project had been hit by funds shortages and we believe this loan from Kuwait will get things moving," he said.

Beitbridge West legislator, Mrs Metrine Mudau said local authorities should come up with policies that promote investment in their respective areas of jurisdiction. The 30-roomed Zhovhe Leisure Park which overlooks the magnificent Zhovhe Dam brings to 220 the numbers of rooms in Beitbridge.

The hotel is located 75km west of the border town along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo highway and brings to 10 the number of hotels in the area. Top Pick investment chief executive officer, Mr Tisetso Sebata said 80 percent of their employees were from Beitbridge district, while the reset were outsourced.

"We have 30 rooms, which can accommodate more than 100 people, two bigger conference rooms and a leisure centre to cater for various social and business functions," he said.

He said they had acquired a fleet of boats for cruising and fishing expedition in the Zhovhe Dam. He said they were engaging nearby Safaris, including Mazunga to also introduce game drives for their visitors.

"We have adopted a robust marketing strategy to ensure that we stay abreast with the challenges and developments in the hospitality sector," he said.